Retainer key for pedestal side frames

ABSTRACT

A thrust block roller bearing retainer is mounted on one or both of the depending legs at each opposite end of a pedestal jaw side frame of a railway car truck assembly. Each thrust roller bearing retainer provides an arcuate bearing surface which conforms to the exterior of the roller bearing and is juxtaposed thereto to provide retaining support when dislocating or disengaging forces are imparted to the roller bearing tending to disengage or dislocate the same with respect to its frame adapter. In addition to the arcuate bearing surface for engaging the exterior of the roller bearing each thrust block roller bearing retainer has a reverse supporting surface adapted to have solid engagement with the inner face of the depending side frame leg on which it is mounted, preferably by means of a bolt extending horizontally through registering apertures in the bearing retainer and depending leg. The thrust block roller bearing retainer functionally supplants the standard frame key although the frame key may be attached in the usual manner if desired.

ilited States atent Hasten, Jr.

[451 Oct. 15, 1974 1 RETAINER KEY FOR PEDESTAL SIDE FRAMES [75] Inventor: Erwin J. Hasten, Jr., Chicago, 111.

, [73] Assignee: Illinois Railway Equipment Co.,

1 1 Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 314,174

[52] US. Cl 105/221 K, 295/36 A, 295/42 [51] Int. Cl. B6lf 5/28, B61f 5/52, B6lf15/20 [58] Field of Search 105/218 R, 218 A, 219,

[56] References Cited.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,724,798 8/1929 Hankins et al. 105/218 R- 1,799,943 4/1931 Alden 105/218 R 1,875,770 9/1932 Stertzbach.. 2,234,413 3/1941 2,424,327 7/1947 3,091,192 5/1963 3,302,589 2/1967 3,521,570 7/1970 Hasten,.lr 105/221 Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King l issistnhf Examiner-Howard Beltran Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lockwood, Dewey, Zickert & Alex [5 7 ABSTRACT A thrust block roller bearing retainer is mounted on one or both of the depending legs at each opposite end of a pedestal jaw side frame of a railway car truck assembly. Each thrust roller bearing retainer provides an arcuate bearing surface which conforms to the exterior of the roller bearing and is juxtaposed thereto to provide retaining support when dislocating or disengaging forces are imparted to the 'roller bearing tending to disengage or dislocate the same with respect to its frame adapter. In addition to the arcuate bearing surface for engaging the exterior of the roller bearing each thrust block roller bearing retainer has a reverse supporting surface adapted to have solid engagement with the inner face of the depending side frame leg on which, it is mounted, preferably by'means of a bolt extending horizontally through registering apertures in the bearing retainer and depending leg. The thrust block roller bearing retainer functionally supplants the standard frame key although the frame key may be attached in the usual manner if desired.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENmw 1 Sim 3.841.230

sum m 2 minimum 1 51914 SHEU 2 0F 2 This invention relates generally to innovations and improvements in means for preventing standard roller I bearings in railway car trucks having pedestal jaw side frames from becoming disengaged from or dislocated with respect to their associated frame adapters. More specifically, the invention relates to thrust block roller bearing retainers adapted to be mounted on outer and- /or inner depending legs at opposite ends of a pedestal jaw side frame and serve to retain and prevent the roller bearings from becoming disengaged from or dislocated with respect to their frame adapters in a much better fashion than provided by the standard frame keys now relied on for performing this function.

One of the forms or types of railway car truck assemblies in general use includes pedestal jaw side frames. At each opposite end of such side frames is a downwardly opening jaw or recess for receiving in the upper portion thereof a frame adapter which rests on the upper surface of a roller bearing mounted on the end of the rail wheel axle received in the jaw recess. The assembly comprising the end of the side frame, frame adapter and roller bearing is normally maintained in proper interfitting relationship of the component parts by the weight of the car and side frames. However, each such assembly is subject in use to forces of varying magnitude and direction which tend to disengage the roller bearing from, and dislocate it with respect to, its associated frame adapter. Such disengagement or dislocation is objectionable for well know cluding: excessive wear on the roller bearing especially on the seal thereof which can ultimately cause the roller bearing to fail; and excessive wear on the inside wall of the outboard pedestal jaw resulting in a changed or abnormal relationship between the roller bearing and the standard side frame key eventually allowing the roller bearing to drop and become disengaged from its frame adapter.

So-called frame keys have heretofore been provided to prevent such disengagement and dislocation of roller bearings from and with respect to their frame adapters but these have not been satisfactory for several reasons. One improved form of a frame key is shown in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,521,570 dated July 21, I970. The frame key disclosed in that patent as well as others is designed so that the inner curved face will fit the various sizes of roller bearings and keep each roller bearing from becoming disengaged from its associated frame adapter. However, in actual use the forces applied to such frame keys are of such magnitude as not to be adequately supported thereby. Frequently, the vertical bolts which secure to mount the frame keys in place become bent excessively. The frame keys also become loose and occasionally drop out. Furthermore, even when the conventional frame keys are properly installed and maintained, there are conditions that develop which they are not able to cope with. For example, when brakes are applied to a set of railroad wheels, there is a tendency to push the wheels outward with respect to the side frames. In other words, one wheel tends to go in one direction and the other wheel in the opposite and thereby to roll out from under the frame adapter. The side of the side frame which comes down on the outboard side of the roller bearing when the brakes are applied thereby tends to go over and contact the roller bearing on the outboard side and produce n reasons m wear in an area where none is supposed to occur. Prolonged or excessive wear on the inside wall of the outboard pedestal jaw results in changes of the relationship between the roller bearing and the side frame key which may allow the roller bearing to drop and become disengaged or dislocated with respect to the adapter even when'the side frame key is tight and otherwise in good condition.

In accordance with the present invention a novel thrust block roller bearing retainer is mounted on a portion of the side frame so as to be fully capable of resisting and absorbing without deformation or appreciable wear such forces as may be applied to it in preventing its associated roller bearing from becoming disengaged from or dislocated with respect to its frame adapter. A highly desirable feature of the combination thrust block and bearing retainers provided by this invention is their provision of a relatively large bearing area having generally the same shape or contour as that of the adjacent exterior surface of a roller bearing whereby the forces necessary to prevent disengagement or dislocation of the roller bearing are spread over an area substantially larger than provided by a frame key.

Accordingly, the object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision of improved means in the form of novel thrust block roller bearing retainers for preventing the roller bearings assembled in railway car trucks having pedestal jaw side frames from becoming disengaged from or dislocated with respect to their associated frame adapters.

An important object of the invention is to take advantage of the adequate and available thrust resisting strength provided by the sets of depending legs at opposite ends of pedestal .jaw side frames in railway car truck assemblies to support in combination thrust block roller bearing retainers of the present invention so as to prevent the roller bearings in the assemblies from becoming disengaged from or dislocated with respect to their associated frame adapters.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of thrust block roller bearing retainers adapted to be mounted on the depending sets of legs at the opposite ends of the pedestal jaw side frame in railway car trucks so as to be fully supported by such depending legs and present arcuate bearing surfaces conforming generally to the shape and contour of the juxtaposed exterior surfaces of the associated roller bearings.

Certain other objects of the invention will be obvious or appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a conventional railroad freight car truck having pedestal jaw side frames and incorporating at the opposite end of each side frame as shown a thrust block roller bearing retainer in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thrust block roller I bearing retainer shown mounted on the outer depending leg of the side frame in FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to FIG. 1, one of the opposite ends of a conventional pedestal jaw side frame of a railway car truck is indicated generally at 5 having a depending outer leg 8 and a depending inner leg 10 bracketing between them a downwardly opening jaw or recess in which is located a frame adapter 11 of conventional and known type. The semi-cylindrical bottom surface of the frame adapter 11 bears down in known manner on the upper semi-cylindrical surface of a standard or conventional roller bearing 12 mounted in the usual manner on the outer end of the wheel axle. A so-called frame key 13 is mounted on the bottom and inside of the inner depending leg 10 in the usual manner.

The assembly which comprises the end of the pedestal jaw side frame 5 with its depending outer and inner legs 8 and 10, respectively, the frame adapter 11, roller bearing 12 and frame key 13 is conventional in narrow pedestal side frame railway car trucks.

The present invention is directed to the thrust block roller bearing retainer indicated generally at 14 in the drawings and the combination thereof in the above mentioned assembly, which may or may not include the frame key 13. Referring particularly to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the thrust block roller bearing retainer 14 may be formed integrally in one piece such as in the form of a casting having a pair of spaced legs 15 and 16 interconnected at their lower ends by a foot portion 17 of relatively heavy cross section. The legs 15 and 16 are provided with registering apertures 18 and 20 adjacent their upper ends for receiving therethrough a horizontal'bolt 21 (F105. 2 and 3) the shank of which also extends through registering apertures in the depending outer leg 8 ofthe side frame 5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the spacing in the retainer legs 15 and 16 is such that they fit freely on opposite sides of the outer leg 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the foot portion 17 of the retainer 14 has a concave curved bearing surface 22 which has substantially the same contour and radius of curvature as the juxtaposed convexed exterior surface 23 of the bearing 12. As viewed in FIG. 1 the arcuate extent of the concave bearing surface 22 is approximately 35 although it will be understood that this is not highly critical and may, for example, range from to 45. it will be seen in FIG. 1 that the vertical midpoint of the concave surface 22 is approximately at the 8 oclock position (the 4 o'clock position if viewed from the rear).

The surface of the foot portion 17 which is reverse with respect to surface 22 is a generally vertical rectangular face or surface 24 which is adapted to engage a transverse vertical surface 25 on the inside of the outer depending leg 8.

ln service. the thrust block roller bearing retainer 14 functions to retain the roller bearing 12 in its proper assembled relationship with the frame adapter 11 and therebythe frame adapter 11 in its proper assembled relationship in the jaw or recess of the side frame 5. When the concave surface 22 of the retainer comes into engagement with the juxtaposed convexed surface 23 of the roller bearing 12 as the result of disengaging or dislocating forces applied to the assembly, the area of the engaging surfaces 22 and 23 are rather substantial so as to minimize localized pressure and resulting wear. The thrust of these forces on the surface 22 are readily absorbed by the thrust-like engagement between the reverse surface 24 on the retainer 14 and the vertical surface 25 on the depending outer leg 8. It will be seen that the thrust is substantially horizontal as the result of the pivoting action of the retainer 14 permitted by the bolt 21. The outer depending leg 8 is well able to absorb such horizontal thrust with little or no portion of the thrust being applied to the bolt 21. On the other hand, in the case of the frame key 13 if there were any engagement between it and the exterior of the roller bearing 12 results in a substantial bending mo ment being applied to the bolt 26 by which the frame key 13 is mounted.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the thrust block roller bearing retainers of the present invention may be readily installed on existing railway car trucks having pedestal jaw side frames by boring or drilling properly located registering holes in opposide sides of the outer and/or inner depending legs 8, 10 for receiving the bolts 21. The thrust block roller bearing retainers 14 do not interfere with the normal assembly and disassembly of the car trucks since the bolts 21 provide for both easy installation and removal of the retainers 14.

The retainers 14 may be fabricated by welding appropriate pieces although usually it will be more economical and preferred to cast the retainers.

While in the drawings only the outer depending leg 8 is shown equipped with a thrust block roller bearing retainer 14, it will be understood that the retainer 14 could be mounted in the same manner on the inner depending leg 10. Although a single retainer 14 mounted on either the outer or inner depending leg will usually provide adequate retention of the associated roller bearing, it will be advantageous to mount a pair of retainers 14 on both outer and inner depending legs 8 and 10, respectively. When a retainer 14 is mounted on the inner leg 10, the frame key 13 will be omitted.

What is claimed is:

1. in a railway car truck having pedestal jaw side frames with a frame adapter in the downwardly opening jaw between the outer and inner depending legs at each end ofa side frame and a roller bearing fitting underneath each adapter, the improvement which comprises, a thrust block roller bearing retainer mounted on a depending leg at each end of a side frame for preventing each roller bearing from becoming dissassociated with respect to its adapter, each of said retainers being entirely supported on the depending leg on which it is mounted and having a concave curved surface generally conforming to the contour of the convex exterior of the adjacent roller bearing with said con cave surface being juxtaposed to a lower side portion of said bearing, each of said thrust block roller bearing retainers having a pair of spaced upstanding legs adapted to be pivoted to and fit on opposite sides of the depending leg from which it is supported and a generally horizontal foot portion interconnecting the lower ends of said upstanding retainer legs, said horizontal foot portion having said concave surface on one face and having a reverse face adapted to thrustwise engage the inner surface of said depending leg so as to maintain said concave surface juxtaposed to the exterior of said bearing.

2. in a railway car truck having pedestal jaw side frames with a frame adapter in the downwardly opening jaw between the outer and inner depending legs at each end of a side frame and a roller bearing fitting underneath each adapter, the improvement which comprises, a thrust block roller bearing retainer mounted on a depending leg at each end of a side frame for preventing each roller bearing from becoming dissassociated with respect to its adapter, each of said retainers being entirely supported on the depending leg on which it is mounted and having a concave curved surface generally conforming to the contour of the convex exterior of the adjacent roller bearing with said concave surface being juxtaposed to a lower side portion of said bearing, each depending leg supporting a thrust block roller bearing retainer being horizontally apertured, each said thrust block roller bearing retainer being integrally formed and having a pair of upstanding legs adapted to be pivoted to and fit on opposite sides of the depending frame leg from which it is supported and a generally horizontal foot portion interconnecting the lower ends of said upstanding retainer legs, said horizontal foot portion having said concave surface on one face and having a generally vertical reverse face adapted to thrustwise engage a generally vertical thrust absorbing inner surface of said depending frame leg so as to maintain said concave surface juxtaposed to the exterior of said bearing, said upstanding retainer legs being horizontally apertured at their upper ends to register with the horizontal aperture in said depending frame leg for receipt of a bolt therethrough.

3. In the improvement as defined in claim 2 said concave surface extending through an appreciable arc from the respective pedestal leg that covers an appreciable horizontal distance between the pedestal legs.

4. A thrust block roller bearing retainer for mounting on the inner side of a depending leg at one end of a pedestal jaw side frame of a railway car truck for preventing the roller bearing in the downwardly opening jaw from becoming dissassociated with respect to the frame adapter in said jaw, said retainer comprising, a pair of upstanding legs adapted to be pivoted to and fit on opposite sides of said depending frame leg and a generally horizontal foot portion interconnecting the lower ends of said upstanding retainer legs said horizontal foot portion having a concave surface with a curvature generally conforming to the juxtaposed convex exterior of said roller bearing and having a reverse surface adapted to supportingly engage the inner face of said depending leg. 

1. In a railway car truck having pedestal jaw side frames with a frame adapter in the downwardly opening jaw between the outer and inner depending legs at each end of a side frame and a roller bearing fitting underneath each adapter, the improvement which comprises, a thrust block roller bearing retainer mounted on a depending leg at each end of a side frame for preventing each roller bearing from becoming dissassociated with respect to its adapter, each of said retainers being entirely supported on the depending leg on which it is mounted and having a concave curved surface generally conforming to the contour of the convex exterior of the adjacent roller bearing with said concave surface being juxtaposed to a lower side portion of said bearing, each of said thrust block roller bearing retainers having a pair of spaced upstanding legs adapted to be pivoted to and fit on opposite sides of the depending leg from which it is supported and a generally horizontal foot portion interconnecting the lower ends of said upstanding retainer legs, said horizontal foot portion having said concave surface on one face and having a reverse face adapted to thrustwise engage the inner surface of said depending leg so as to maintain said concave surface juxtaposed to the exterior of said bearing.
 2. In a railway car truck having pedestal jaw side frames with a frame adapter in the downwardly opening jaw between the outer and inner depending legs at each end of a side frame and a roller bearing fitting underneath each adapter, the improvement which comprises, a thrust block roller bearing retainer mounted on a depending leg at each end of a side frame for preventing each roller bearing from becoming dissassociated with respect to its adapter, each of said retainers being entirely supported on the depending leg on which it is mounted and having a concave curved surface generally conforming to the contour of the convex extErior of the adjacent roller bearing with said concave surface being juxtaposed to a lower side portion of said bearing, each depending leg supporting a thrust block roller bearing retainer being horizontally apertured, each said thrust block roller bearing retainer being integrally formed and having a pair of upstanding legs adapted to be pivoted to and fit on opposite sides of the depending frame leg from which it is supported and a generally horizontal foot portion interconnecting the lower ends of said upstanding retainer legs, said horizontal foot portion having said concave surface on one face and having a generally vertical reverse face adapted to thrustwise engage a generally vertical thrust absorbing inner surface of said depending frame leg so as to maintain said concave surface juxtaposed to the exterior of said bearing, said upstanding retainer legs being horizontally apertured at their upper ends to register with the horizontal aperture in said depending frame leg for receipt of a bolt therethrough.
 3. In the improvement as defined in claim 2 said concave surface extending through an appreciable arc from the respective pedestal leg that covers an appreciable horizontal distance between the pedestal legs.
 4. A thrust block roller bearing retainer for mounting on the inner side of a depending leg at one end of a pedestal jaw side frame of a railway car truck for preventing the roller bearing in the downwardly opening jaw from becoming dissassociated with respect to the frame adapter in said jaw, said retainer comprising, a pair of upstanding legs adapted to be pivoted to and fit on opposite sides of said depending frame leg and a generally horizontal foot portion interconnecting the lower ends of said upstanding retainer legs said horizontal foot portion having a concave surface with a curvature generally conforming to the juxtaposed convex exterior of said roller bearing and having a reverse surface adapted to supportingly engage the inner face of said depending leg. 